A 28-year-old man has been remanded in custody charged with three counts of murder following a fire that killed a mother, daughter and granddaughter in the same family at a house in Wales.

Three generation of the same family died in the alleged arson attack (Picture: PA)

Carl Anthony Mills, of no fixed address, appeared at Caerphilly magistrates’ court on Saturday charged with the murders of Kim Buckley, 46, her daughter Kayleigh, 17, and six-month old granddaughter Kimberley.

He was remanded in custody and will appear again before Newport crown court on Monday.

Firefighters were called to the blaze at a house on the Coed Eva estate in south Wales on Tuesday.

Police said that neighbours had tried to rescue the family but the fire was too fierce for them to be able to enter the property.

Nicola Rees, of the Crown Prosecution Service in Wales, said prior to Mr Mills appearance in court: ‘Having carefully examined a file of the evidence gathered so far by Gwent Police, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to charge Carl Anthony Mills with three counts of murder.’

The case has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission after it emerged that officers had been called to the property on other occasions.

Detective Superintendent Pete Jones, of Gwent Police, added: ‘Our thoughts remain with the family of Kim, Kayleigh and Kimberley at this difficult time.

‘I would like to thank the family and the wider community of Coed Eva for their patience and support throughout our investigation so far.’

A local parish church in Old Cwmbran held a candlelit vigil and opened a book of condolence in memory of the family on Friday, with area dean Father Michael Phillips saying that the local community had experienced a ‘profound sense of shock, loss and sadness’.